Thermal Imagers Comparison Guide

Comparison Summary

We recently had the chance to get hands on with the FLIR C2 Pocket Thermal Camera and the FLIR TG165 Spot Thermal Camera. We wanted to see what the big deal was between the two units. How much of a difference could there be, considering the relatively small price difference?

Well, we are here to tell you, the differences are SPECTACULAR! You now have the ability to outfit everyone on your crew with a real, easy-to-use thermal imaging camera the size of a smartphone. No more attachments or interfaces to your phone, just so you can have something portable and that can slip into your pocket.

On paper, these two cameras have similar specifications. Both have 80 x 60 pixel infrared resolution. The C2 takes the edge in thermal sensitivity with 100mK while the TG165 is slightly less sensitive at 150mK. The TG165 gains some ground back in temperature range, where it covers –13 to +716°F - the C2's temperature range is narrower at 14 to 302°F. Both have a frame rate of 9Hz.

That said, what is on paper doesn't tell the full story. The FLIR C2 actually will provide crisper images thanks to FLIR's MSX technology - the TG165 does not have MSX. The C2 also features a large 3-inch touchscreen, while the TG165 has only a 2-inch screen. You can clearly see the differences between MSX on the C2 and non-MSX on the TG165 in the image below.

The C2 can also be held either horizontally or vertically and the image rotates accordingly. If you want to see more, hold it sideways so the thermal image is in landscape mode. When you hold it upright, the FLIR C2 will be in portrait mode, which is great for things that are taller than wider like fuse boxes.

Unlike the FLIR TG165, the FLIR C2 will allow you to export full radiometric JPEGs, just like any of their other thermal imaging cameras. This means you can import them, with all the data, into FLIR Tools software and make any adjustments you wish (like colorbands, scale, emissivity or span). You can then export the report as a finished document and send it to your boss or client.

When you send your crew out to take routine shots with an IR/Visual blended camera, how often do you turn the images this way and that way to figure out what is you are looking at? Those days are gone forever with the FLIR C2 thermal imaging camera thanks to FLIR MSX technology. Have you ever had a situation where someone on your team was out doing some routine checks and missed something that could have been prevented, had they been able to assess the situation with a thermal camera? Perhaps a valve was stuck, a bearing overheated, or a high-voltage connection wasn't tight enough? Without a thermal image, equipment could be damaged, production may stop, or worse, someone could be hurt.

Now, with the FLIR C2 infrared camera, this technology can literally be in the palms of everyone's hands. The money you can save by finding one issue before it becomes a serious problem is easily worth the price tag.

The FLIR TG165 was and still is a powerful IR camera - it broke the price barrier and put powerful FLIR IR technology within reach of just about any budget. However, FLIR is not a company to rest or be satisfied with just "good enough." The C2 improves on the TG165 in many ways including image quality, size and form factor, IR sensitivity, exporting data, and MSX technology.

Want to know more? Check out the tables below or give us a call at 877-571-7901. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have.